‘Welcome to Derry’: Everything to Know About the ‘It’ Prequel Series
It will not be long before we return to the sewers. A television series parallel to Stephen King’s It, called Welcome to Derry, is being developed for Max, and some important details about the Pennywise prequel show are beginning to surface.
What you need to know about Welcome to Derry is all here.
Starring in Welcome to Derry will be who?
According to Deadline, it appears that Bill Skarsgård will have unrestricted access to scare all the kids in the town once more in this season. In Andy Muschietti’s adaptations of It and It: Chapter Two, the actor played Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the ubiquitous villain who resurfaces every 27 years to feast on frightened children.
Depending on the content, the actor has expressed interest in maybe appearing in the series in a prior YouTube interview.
The series also stars Madeleine Stowe, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, and Taylour Paige.
Who will take the lead Greetings from Derry?
Along with co-producer Jason Fuchs and producing partner Barbara Muschietti, Andy Muschietti is returning to the franchise. Of the nine episodes that are scheduled for the series, Muschietti is anticipated to direct four of them, including the opening one.
What is covered in Welcome to Derry?
The events shown in the 2017 and 2019 cinematic adaptations of Stephen King’s It occur prior to those in Welcome to Derry. According to reports, the story will take place in the 1960s and tell Penny Wise’s origin story.
Pennywise is, of course, the supernatural villain of It who can shapeshift to meet his victims’ deepest fears. He is also of extraterrestrial origin and has a connection to other elements of King’s literary universe, including the Dark Tower.
When will Welcome to Derry premiere?
The series is expected to arrive on Max in 2025.
What else should I know about Welcome to Derry?
Production on the series first began in Toronto in May 2023, but shooting was suspended because of the SAG-AFTRA strikes that summer and fall. This resulted in a delayed premiere date. Also, for now, Welcome to Derry is merely a working title.
Bill Skarsgård
ACTOR • PRODUCER • DIRECTOR • MODEL
Birth Name: Bill Istvan Günther Skarsgård
Birth Date: August 9, 1990
Age: 33 years old
Birth Place: Välling by, Sweden
Bill Skarsgård, an actor, came from one of Sweden’s most famous acting families and was successful both back home and in the US. He was the fourth child of well-known Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård, and was born on August 9, 1990. With a desire to emulate his father and two elder brothers, Skarsgård made his acting debut in the Swedish thriller “White Water Fury” (2000) with his brother Alexander at the age of ten.
Though he had a few TV miniseries and short films to his credit, Skarsgård was not convinced he wanted to be an actor until he was chosen to play his father in the epic sword-and-shield picture “Arn: The Kingdom at Road’s End” (2008). Skarsgård kept getting playing roles in Sweden after that, and he even had a small part in the science-fiction comedy “Kenny Begins” (2009). The young actor did not make his debut until 2010 when he played the lead in the Swedish comedy “Simple Simon.” In this Academy Award-nominated film, he played a sensitive youngster with Asperger’s condition, which won him a lot of praise from critics.
Thanks to his increased visibility, Skarsgård was able to get a part in his first non-Swedish film, which was director Joe Wright’s 2012 version of Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina,” which starred Jude Law and Keira Knightley, two Academy Award nominees. The first American TV series that Skarsgård shot in main was “Hemlock Grove” (Netflix, 2013–). Skarsgård played Roman Godfrey in the television series, which was based on Brian McGreevy’s horror novel. The otherworldly powers cause disaster in Godfrey’s family. Amidst the seasons of “Hemlock Grove,” Skarsgård acted as a co-star in the Norwegian drama “Victoria” (2013) and the last movie of the “Divergent” young adult trilogy, “Allegiant” (2015).
After the show concluded in 2015, Skarsgård co-starred with Charlize Theron in the action thriller “Atomic Blonde” (2017), which took place during the Cold War, and in the highly anticipated 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s “It” (2017), where he played the renowned clown Pennywise. His subsequent roles were in the action-comedy follow-up “Deadpool 2” (2018), the criminal thriller “Assassination Nation” (2018), and the romance drama “Battlecreek” (2017).
‘Welcome To Derry’: Bill Skarsgård to Reprise Pennywise Role In ‘It’ Prequel on Max
UNIVERSAL: A well-known figure is returning to scare the kids of Derry, Maine. Welcome To Derry, the working title of the Max Its prequel series, is slated to star and be executive produced by Bill Skarsgård. The popular 2017 New Line film It and its follow-up, It Chapter Two, featured him in the title role as It/Pennywise, which he will be returning.
Skarsgård is teaming up again on the Warner Bros. Television-produced series with other important figures from the It film franchise, including producers Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs (who co-produced Chapter Two and directed both films), director Andy Muschietti, and other producers Roy Lee and Dan Lin. Together, they developed the TV adaptation of the Stephen King horror classic. The nine-episode series will have four episodes directed by Andy Muschietti.
The actor previously said in a You Tube interview he had an interest in potentially joining the series depending on the material.
Chris Chalk
ACTOR
Birth Name: Christopher Eugene Chalk
Birth Date: December 7, 1977
Age: 46 years old
Birth Place: Asheville, North Carolina
Fans of Chris Chalk for a long time were not surprised by his acting career because of his captivating on-screen presence and brilliant eyes. Chalk, who was raised in Asheville, North Carolina, never gave acting a second thought until he enrolled at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. There, he developed a passion for theater and took part in a few productions, such as “Hair,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Perfect Party,” and “The Bible: The Complete Word of God.”
Chalk pursued a career in theater and film after college, and in 2005 he was cast in a brief role in the film version of the musical “Rent,” however his screen time was limited to eight seconds. Following her performances in the critically acclaimed Broadway production of “Fences” and “Defiance” at the Manhattan Theatre Club City Center in 2006 and 2010, Chalk was cast in the recurring character of Tom Walker on the wildly successful television series “Homeland” (Showtime, 2011–). The actor from New York moved to Los Angeles after he was offered the part of Gary Cooper in the Aaron Sorkin series “The Newsroom” (HBO, 2012–14).
‘Welcome to Derry’: First ‘It’ Prequel Series Footage Released in Max’s 2024 Teaser
With new footage from returning favorites like House of the Dragon and Curb Your Enthusiasm to sneak peeks at brand-new franchise spinoffs like The Penguin and even 2025’s Its prequel Welcome to Derry, HBO and Max are giving subscribers a first look at some of its most eagerly anticipated titles in 2024.
Following the publication of the first teaser for House of the Dragon’s Season 2, a two-minute teaser for the show presents the official 2024 schedule for HBO and Max Originals. However, the 2025 hints for Welcome to Derry, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us will keep fans interested long after the new year arrives.
As previously revealed, Welcome to Derry builds on the world created by Stephen King in his Its universe and is based on his beloved novel. It does so by extending the ideas shown in Andy Muschietti’s films It and It Chapter Two. The cast of Watchmen’s Jovan Adepo, James Remar, Chris Chalk, and Taylour Paige have all been previously revealed for the show.
Fans may have to wait a while for the show to premiere, but in 2024 they can watch Tokyo Vice, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, The Jinx: Part Two, My Brilliant Friend, Hacks, House of the Dragon, The Sympathizer, The Regime, The Penguin, The Franchise, Jerrod Carmichael: Reality Show, Industry, Somebody Somewhere, Conan O’Brien Must Go, Elizabeth, and Tokyo Vice.
The First Season 2 Teaser of “House of the Dragon” Uncovers the Fiery Targaryen War (VIDEO)
In 2025, fresh seasons of Euphoria and Max’s Sex and the City follow-up series And Just Like That will debut in addition to The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and Welcome to Derry.
The contract that HBO and Max struck with A24 to stream its theatrical films exclusively through a pay-1 output agreement means that all these releases are really the tip of the iceberg. The A24 library includes films such as Priscilla, Dream Scenario, The Iron Claw, Dicks: The Musical, The Zone of Interest, Stop Making Sense, Love Lies Bleeding, Civil War, and many more, including Everything Everywhere All at Once, the winner of the Best Picture Oscar.
Put another way, enjoy the show! In the next weeks, months, and years, keep checking back for more information about the future titles coming to Max and HBO.
